Shock and sadness continue to cast a pall over the local and regional music community today in the wake of Friday s untimely death of famed Boston and Beatle Juice frontman Brad Delp.

The 55-year-old musician was found dead in his Atkinson home early Friday afternoon by police responding to a call for help. He was apparently home alone, said officials, who called his death  untimely and said there was no indication of foul play. Throughout the weekend, Delp s death remained under investigation by Atkinson police and the New Hampshire Medical Examiner s office, who said an incident report with the cause of death is expected to be released today.

Eulogized since Friday by a wide spectrum of musicians and fans as the consummate nice-guy rocker whose singing talent was surpassed only by his kindness and infectious personality, Delp initially rose to rock  n roll prominence in 1976, singing Boston hits  More Than a Feeling and  Longtime after joining the band in the early  70s. A lifetime music enthusiast, Delp worked on several side projects over the years, including forming the widely popular Beatles tribute band Beatle Juice roughly a decade ago.

On Friday night, an obviously devastated Bill Faulkner, a close, longtime friend of Delp, said he was still in shock.

 I have no words . . . I don t know, I just don t know . . . Faulkner managed, speaking barely above a whisper.

Word of Delp s death arrived just two to three hours before Beatle Juice was scheduled to take the stage at Johnny D s in Somerville, Mass.

Crew members suddenly abandoned the stage setup after drummer John  Muzz Mussey called around 5 p.m., one report stated. Bartenders said patrons huddled, some crying, others bringing in flowers.

Immediately, countless tributes for Delp began showing up on Web sites and were called in to New England radio stations. Boston s official site, www.bandboston.com, was taken down Friday and replaced with the simple phrase,  We just lost the nicest guy in rock  n roll, scripted across a black background.

 Brad was the kind of guy who d always remember your name, no matter when you saw him last, said Jim Hinkle of Nashua, a member of the longtime band Aces & Eights, who met Delp through Faulkner and frequented Beatle Juice shows.

 He was real, as genuine a man as you get, Hinkle said.  Those stories you hear about him staying for hours after shows to sign autographs and talk with people  they re all true.

 This is just horrid, horrid news.
Beatle Juice s planned April 7 concert at Alpine Grove in Hollis, which was to have been a benefit for the Doug Flutie Jr. Autism Fund, is currently on hold, said Alpine owner Alan Archambault.

 We re not sure where we re going, what s going to happen, Archambault said Sunday.  Obviously, we re devastated over here . . . all of us at Alpine really have heavy hearts right now.

Particularly saddening for the Alpine family, Archambault said, is the fact that they were scheduled to throw a giant post-wedding party for Delp and his fiancee, Pam Sullivan, on Sept. 9.  We ve done probably 4,000 weddings, but that would have been the crown jewel for my staff and me, he said.  I adore them both.

Archambault said he s long been a big Boston fan.  I must have worn out 20 Boston cassettes growing up, he said.  Brad s the main reason I like music so much today.

On Sunday, Boston founder Tom Scholz, who hired Delp in the beginning, posted a new message on bandboston.com announcing the cancellation of Boston s summer tour.

 My heart goes out to his wonderful fiancee Pamela (Sullivan), his two children, and other family . . . his close friends and band mates, and to the millions of people whose lives were made a little brighter by the sound of his voice, Scholz wrote.

WKNE radio personality Parker Springfield interviewed Delp roughly a week prior to a Beatle Juice show at Keene High School s new performing arts center.

 Little did I know then that it would be Brad s last interview, Springfield said on Sunday.  I made it into an hourlong Beatles tribute show . . . as it turned out, it was a tribute to Brad.

The show, on March 3, was Delp s last. Before the show, Springfield said he and Delp chatted backstage.  We talked about his wedding this summer; he was so happy to get getting married again, he said.  He said he d been with Pam for six years . . . he was so proud of her.

Delp had a great show, Springfield said.  He looked great, very healthy, and had a flawless performance as usual.  That s why I was so shocked to hear of his passing.

Veteran area rocker Gardner Berry, who, like Delp, has fronted and held other roles in a number of bands for more than 30 years, was first a fan, then a friend, of Delp s.

 I ve listened to his music for 30 years  what a great vocalist, Berry said Sunday.  I met him about 10 years ago when Lisa (Guyer, Berry s partner in the band Mama Kicks) did her first CD with Barry (Gaudreau, Boston guitarist). Brad was at the release party, he said.

One of Berry s current projects is Four Sticks, a Led Zeppelin tribute band.  Brad came to see us whenever he could . . . he was such a nice guy to everyone, Berry said.

 I ll never forget him telling me I have a great voice . . . having Brad Delp tell you ebony porn that you have a great voice is like Beyonce telling you that you have a great ass, Berry added with a laugh.

 Seriously, I ve never had a more meaningful compliment in my life.

Meanwhile, Archambault said those who have already bought tickets to the April 7 Alpine fundraiser should stay tuned.  I don t know how in the world we can do (the show) without Brad . . . but it s too premature to make a decision; we ll stay in a holding pattern for a bit, he said.

 Right now, I could just curl up and cry like a baby. Brad was a true gentle spirit. I m honored to have seen and heard him sing, Archambault added.

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